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Life on the road

Simon Smedley
29/10/2008

A POSITIVE, attacking mindset appears to be the secret behind Stockport County’s amazing success on their travels throughout 2008.

In League One this season the Hatters remain unbeaten away from home after back-to-back wins over the last eight days at Milton Keynes Dons and Hereford United.

That’s broken a club record in itself, but the record over the calendar year is also superb, and has now started attracting interest from across the country.

Since the turn of the year, Jim Gannon’s side have played 19 away league games, winning 12, drawing six and losing just once - at Barnet in April.

Hatters’ boss Gannon said: "The main thing for me is that we’re going into away games with the right mentality.

"We went into the Hereford game on Saturday wanting to win it, the same as we did back in March when we were at Edgar Street looking for a win to help push us up the League Two table.

"We’re playing on the front foot, we always try to win games, and we definitely deserved to do just that on Saturday."

County’s rugged midfielder Jason Taylor believes County’s style of play usually suits the circumstances when playing at opposition grounds.

Taylor, who skippered County at Hereford, added: "I think it suits us when we’re away because normally home sides have to come out and attack, and we’re good on the counter.

"We’ve got quick, aggressive players, and we can cause problems for a lot of teams.

"We do need to take this good away form into our home games as well now though, particularly as there’s two home games coming up this week.

"Hopefully a couple more wins against Tranmere and Carlisle will push us even further into contention."

Taylor added: "You can’t moan at two away wins on the bounce over the last week though.

"It has put us into a brilliant position ahead of the two home games.

"Hopefully we can just keep pressing on and climbing the table."

FOLLOWING Sunday’s draw, County are now looking forward to a clash at Yeovil Town in the first round of the FA Cup on Saturday, November 8.

Former County captain Gareth Owen moved to Huish Park on a one-month loan deal earlier this month, although the centre-half may be prevented from playing against his parent club to avoid him being cup tied. Yeovil, who are fifth from bottom in League One, have only won twice in the league this season.

The tie will be the first competitive game between the Glovers and the Hatters.

COUNTY have confirmed they have yet to decide whether to report Colchester’s Paul Reid to police over his horror challenge on Matty McNeil. It is thought a meeting, scheduled for Monday night, to decide whether to proceed with the complaint did not go ahead, and that County officials are still collecting evidence to pass to the club’s solicitors. McNeil was taken to hospital following the challenge by Reid in County’s 2-1 defeat at Edgeley Park. He was later released but was absent for County’s victories over MK Dons and Hereford United.